Specialized Roubaix Sport £2,900 | 8.73kg

Clever engineering makes for a highly comfortable ride – but at a price

The Specialized Roubaix is built for handling rough terrain and remaining comfortable over long distances. The proof of the pudding is very much in the eating, with a total of seven cobble-munching wins over the last 15 years at the Queen of the Classics, Paris-Roubaix.

Naturally, the platform has been refined over the years, benefiting majorly from many clever tech developments. As a result, although the Roubaix Sport here is the ‘entry level’ model, it comes in at £2,900, with the prices only increasing through the range.

“Perhaps the Roubaix’s most distinctive feature is the Future Shock 1.5 front suspension system”

HIDDEN SEAT CLAMP

The boxy profile at the top of the seat tube hides the seat clamp, which attaches lower down so as to allow the post more flex

HOVER BAR

Providing a bit of extra stack height, the twin kinks also limit the space on offer for lights and head units

THREADED BOTTOM BRACKET

It’s less creak-prone than the press-fit alternative, as well as being easier for a home mechanic to work on

Frame

Perhaps the Roubaix’s most distinctive feature is the Future Shock 1.5 front suspension system, offering 20mm of travel between the handlebars and the head tube to help soak up the impacts.

It’s a very discreet design, looking at first glance just like a normal steerer column, but it does mean you can’t simply use spacers to adjust the stack height.